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Global Risk
Blog
Report
Planning for the Unthinkable: The targeting strategies of nuclear-armed states

While it is reasonable for governments to keep the most sensitive aspects of nuclear policies secret, the rights of their citizens to have access to general knowledge about these issues is equally valid so they may know about the consequences to themselves and their country.

06.30.25 | 4 min read
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Emerging Technology
Blog
Translating Vision into Action: FAS Commentary on the NSCEB Final Report and the Future of U.S. Biotechnology

Advancing the U.S. leadership in emerging biotechnology is a strategic imperative, one that will shape regional development within the U.S., economic competitiveness abroad, and our national security for decades to come.

06.27.25 | 15 min read
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Environment
Blog
Issue Brief
It’s Summer, America’s Heating Up, and We’re Even More Unprepared

The good news is that even when the mercury climbs, heat illness, injury, and death are preventable. The bad news is that over the past five months, the Trump administration has dismantled essential preventative capabilities.

06.23.25 | 11 min read
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Government Capacity
Blog
The Data We Take for Granted: Telling the Story of How Federal Data Benefits American Lives and Livelihoods

As the former U.S. Chief Data Scientist, I know first-hand how valuable and vulnerable our nation’s federal data assets are. Like many things in life, we’ve been taking our data for granted and will miss it terribly when it’s gone. 

06.20.25 | 6 min read
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Environment
Blog
Federal Climate Policy Is Being Gutted. What Does That Say About How Well It Was Working?

The Trump Administration has moved with alarming speed to demolish programs, regulations, and institutions that were intended to make our communities and planet more liveable.

06.16.25 | 11 min read
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Clean Energy
Blog
50 Years, $50 Billion in Savings: Don’t Pull the Plug on FEMP

This DOE Office has been achieving DOGE’s stated mission of billion dollar savings for decades. Now government leaders may close its doors.

06.13.25 | 6 min read
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Government Capacity
Blog
The Direct File Dream Lives On

Direct File redefined what IRS service could look like, with real-time help and data-driven improvements. Let’s apply that bar elsewhere.

06.13.25 | 3 min read
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Clean Energy
Blog
Updating the Clean Electricity Playbook: Learning Lessons from the 100% Clean Agenda

To fight the climate crises, we must do more than connect power plants to the grid: we need new policy frameworks and expanded coalitions to facilitate the rapid transformation of the electricity system.

06.05.25 | 6 min read
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Global Risk
Blog
Raising the Nuclear IQ

Without information, without factual information, you can’t act. You can’t relate to the world you live in. And so it’s super important for us to be able to monitor what’s happening around the world, analyze the material, and translate it into something that different audiences can understand.

06.04.25 | 6 min read
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Government Capacity
Blog
Breaking Down the New Memos on Federal Hiring

There is a lot to like in OPM’s new memos on federal hiring and senior executives, much of which reformers have been after for years, but there’s also a troubling focus on politicizing the federal workforce.

06.04.25 | 12 min read
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Government Capacity
Blog
The Untold Story of the CHIPS and Science Act

The public rarely sees the quiet, often messy work that goes into creating, passing, and implementing a major piece of legislation like the CHIPS and Science Act.

05.30.25 | 2 min read
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Government Capacity
Blog
Proposed “Schedule Policy/Career” Rule is Open For Comment Now, and If Implemented Could Significantly Change How Decisions Are Made

When we introduce “at-will” employment to government employees, we also introduce the potential for environments where people are more concerned about self-preservation than service to others.

05.20.25 | 3 min read
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